AUSTIN, Texas — Understanding the formula for championship success is second nature to Joe Gibbs. His storied career includes three Super Bowl victories as an NFL coach and five Cup Series titles as a NASCAR team owner. Now, Gibbs is witnessing a potential new championship path with the recent performances of driver Christopher Bell, who clinched back-to-back victories, first in Atlanta and then in Austin last Sunday.
In both races, Bell demonstrated patience and strategic prowess, securing victory in the crucial closing moments. Gibbs, experiencing a sense of optimism similar to when everything fell into place for a team, sees a promising championship dynamic developing from the race shop to the cockpit.
Reflecting on Bell’s triumphs, the 84-year-old Gibbs remarked, “There are times in football when a team clicks, brimming with confidence and chemistry. It’s not frequent, nor does it seamlessly transition from one year to the next, but when it does, it’s unmistakable. That’s what we feel with the No. 20 team.”
Bell’s knack for securing wins on diverse tracks is evident. His triumph in Atlanta came in an overtime win on a superspeedway oval, while on the road course at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, he only led eight of the 95 laps before mastering a four-car duel in the final 13 laps. During this exhilarating finale, Bell overtook Kyle Busch for the lead and fended off challenges from Daytona 500 winner William Byron and Tyler Reddick to clinch victory.
The victory in Austin marks Bell’s 11th career win and his third on a road course. Impressively, Bell has secured multiple victories for four consecutive seasons and has become the first driver to clinch two wins in the first three races of the season since Kevin Harvick achieved the feat in 2018.
Bell, reflecting on his recent performances, commented, “Winning in Atlanta and here, I managed to clinch victories without having the outright fastest car, which is quite gratifying considering last year’s misses. I’m excited about the upcoming races and have high hopes and goals for the year.”
The series is headed to Phoenix next, where Bell is the defending champion, followed by a race in Las Vegas. Crew chief Adam Stevens is already setting high expectations for these races. “There’s no reason we can’t aim to win the next two weeks. Each race stands alone, and everyone will bring their best. But I have immense faith in this team, Joe Gibbs Racing, and especially in my driver, and I know we’ll be contenders,” Stevens assured.
This belief and confidence are exactly what Gibbs recognizes as the hallmark of championship teams, whether on the football field or in the racing arena. “Adam is a remarkable leader, and with Christopher gaining confidence, it’s creating a solid foundation. While it’s challenging to put it all together in the Cup Series, I genuinely believe, as Adam mentioned, we possess all the necessary components right now,” Gibbs stated with optimism and pride.
